2020 Small and Mid-sized Business Lending Fraud Study Results

• SMB lending fraud is steadily rising, with the average lender experiencing an 8.3% increase in fraud over the last 24 months.
• A majority of lenders that operate heavily through digital channels reported that synthetic identity fraud is a serious threat.
• Fraud losses as a percentage of revenue have increased an average of 28.6% year-over-year.

As these factors coalesce within today’s rapidly changing business environment, your business could be exposed to the damaging impacts of SMB lending fraud:

• Loss of revenues
• Declines in portfolio performance
• Reputational damage
• Exposure to liabilities
• Costs associated with missed opportunities 

The current level of fluidity across global markets and acute contractions in the small business sector only exacerbate the challenges of SMB fraud and provide more routes for it to flourish. The decisioning speeds and high levels of pressure to quickly distribute loans under the stimulus packages contribute to loan fraud rates of 10-12%. SMB loan applicants are also interfacing with your business over digital and online channels more than ever before. Protecting your business against SMB fraud is paramount to maximizing portfolio performance and revenues and the best defense demands a complete view of risk.

Defining the fraud risks that are specific to small and midsized businesses

Small and midsized businesses represent unique and nuanced fraud risks. Well-informed decisions require visibility into the business itself as well as a deep understanding of the authorized representatives tied to the business. The connections between people and businesses are elements that SMB fraudsters specifically exploit to commit fraud. The complex layers of identity and financial attributes associated with businesses and people combine to facilitate an ideal environment for several types of fraud, including:

• Synthetic Identity Fraud: Creation of a new identity/business entity using a combination of real and fabricated information, or sometimes entirely fictitious information, to commit fraud
• Third-Party Identity Fraud: Identity theft of true owner/authorized business representative to commit fraud
• Third-Party Account Takeover Fraud: The use of a combination of a victim’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to access an associated financial account in an effort to fraudulently secure a loan
• First-Party Friendly Fraud: Business owner/authorized user or individual associated with business owner (i.e. family member, friend, etc.) commits loan fraud
• Loan Stacking: Utilizing several different taxpayer identification numbers to obtain multiple loans for the same business
• TIN-Spoofing: Creation of multiple taxpayer ID numbers to fraudulently apply for loans

To further complicate the SMB fraud scenario, sophisticated individual fraudsters and well-networked fraud rings are adept at test-driving the fraud defenses and controls of lenders. Once system vulnerabilities are uncovered, fraudsters quickly target and exploit these weaknesses by funneling as many loan applications as possible through those lenders. Fraudsters continually adapt and shift their schemes to capitalize and monetize the most viable route to quick and often, undetected, profits, meaning your fraud defense strategy needs to be highly dynamic and risk-responsive.

Identify and proactively prevent SMB fraud

The right tools and layered technology support a proactive fraud strategy that creates an advantage in identifying and preventing SMB fraud. LexisNexis® Risk Solutions can develop a multi-layered fraud defense that easily adapts to help you respond to today’s changing SMB risk climate.

We combine our extensive coverage of small to midsized businesses and their associates with proven analytics to provide a clear, unified illustration of the critical relationships and connections within a business. By layering this comprehensive view of a business with our advanced fraud detection solutions, we can help automate lending decisions and isolate fraud before it enters your portfolio. Our fraud solutions integrate physical and digital identity intelligence with device, biometric and behavioral insights to enable your business to quickly detect fraud signals and stop enterprising fraudsters in their tracks. With an optimal fraud prevention strategy, you can focus on viable lending opportunities and foster stronger portfolio performance. Protect against SMB fraud and prioritize core business objectives with LexisNexis Risk Solutions.